The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-12-10

Current Events.


The French crises was passed on Saturday
without disorder of any kind The election
of A president of the republic 10 succeed
Grew, who resigned on Friday afternoon,
took place AT Versailles and resulted In
the selection Of Mr.. Sadi. Carnot. He Is
man so years old, and comes from line
NOUS In France during the past hundred
wears. He Is q grandson Of the great warmin'
lister of the first Revolution; and son OF a
well. known politician and author He has
held various offices during the time OF the
third republic, and Is very popular with all
classes.
Congress met al noon on Monday last,
Usually the clerk opens the BALL. Dut on
this occasion a crank In the gallery opened
the proceedings by crying out, Let Us sing
the doxology," and proceeded to DO II as
solo the house In the meantime waiting
patiently until he had finished. The roll
having been called, the officers were then
elected as Der the democratic caucus nomi
nations. John g. Carlisle was elected
speaker, and was sworn In by Mr.. Kelley
of Penn. On taking the stand, Mr.. Carlisle
made short address, calling attention ~
the dangers tO business prosperity threat
ened by the existing revenue laws. These
dangers he said could be averted only by
the action OF congress. sour effort" he
added, SHOULD be 10 afford the necessary
relief 10 all without Injury 10 the Interests
OF any, and therefore that course OF legis-
lature should b. pursued which will guar
antee the laboring people OF the country
against the paralyzing effects OF general
and prolonged financial depression, and
also not interfere with their steady en-
ployment or deprive them Of any part OF
the Just rewards of their toll. If this can
be done-and believe II can If our DELHI
erations are conducted with the wisdom
and patriotism which the gravity OF the
situation demands-this congress will have
cause to congratulate itself on an achieve
ment which promises peace and prosperity
10 the country for many years to come"
The message was sent 10 congress on
Tuesday II deals with but one topic-the
tariff; and is generally conceded TO be one
of the ablest messages ever sent 10 con
gress.
The report Of the secretary OF the treas
ury recommends a reduction of from 10 10
so millions in revenue, 70 be accomplished
by reduction of tariff on imports. As TO
silver, he recommends that when the treas.
ury holdings reach certain limit, then
coinage be suspended until II shall have
poured out for a while. As of late II has
been going out faster that 1t has come In,
no uneasiness Is felt.
The republican national committee held
It's meeting In Washington this week, and
on Thursday last selected Chicago as the
place for holding the national convention
of 1888.
The Supreme Court of the United States
handed down an important decision on the
subject of prohibitive liquor laws on Mon
day last in the so-called Kansas prohibition
cases. The Court says such laws do not
necessarily infringe any right, privilege,
&c, guaranteed by the 14th amendment to
the constitution which provides that no
state shall "abridge the privileges or I'M
munitives of citizens" nor deprive any
person of life, liberty, or property, without
due process of law" To preserve his
rights and immunities man must so con-
duct himself and "use his property as not
necessarily iniure another" The power To
determine whether the manufacture of a
certain drink Is an injury, must exist some.
Legislature, and belongs to that department
which eYerts what are known as the police
powers of the state. These powers will not
be sustained:if arbitrary or capricious; but
"there 10 rot justification for holding that
the state, under the guise merely of police
regulations, Is aiming 10 deprive the citizen
CT his constitutional rights, for we cannot
shut out of view the fact, within the know.
Inl r. hat hn
public morals, and the public safety may
icatlng drinks Nor can we ignore the fact
established by statistics accessible to every.
one. That the disorder, pauperism and
crime prevalent In the country are In a
large measure directly tracable to this evil,
If, therefore, state deems the absolute
prohibition of the manufacture and sale
within her limits Of intoxicating liquors for
other than medical, scientific and MANS
featuring purposes to be necessary to the
peace and security of society the courts
cannot, without usurplng Legislative
functions, override the will of the people
as thus expressed by their chosen repres
entatives."
The cid world Is in decided state of
scare on account OF the unusual movement
of Russian troops for concentration on the
Austrian frontier, which no one seams to
understand.
Most, the snarchlst, was on Thursday
sentenced to one year in the penitentary,
without fine. Judge Cowing in passing
sentence gave him a very wholesome bit OF
admonition, concluding with this bit of
advice, which others besides Most can
safely take home to themselves: "Now, In
this case, If you are going to live In this
community you should study our institu-
rions understand the sights of American
citizenship, and do as much good rs you
can to your fellow.men instead of under
taking to create discord among them"
The Imprisonment of Lord Mayor Sal
Ivan of Dublin, will doubtless act as a
boomerang. The London Ne,os says 1t Is a
national scandal, and that the English
people are asking In shame and anger what
maLner Of law II must be that converts
such men into criminals.
-
TIE MESSAGE.
The alessage sent to congress by Presi,
liant Ctaualond ON TuaoJuv 10 q paw do